“CANCER CAN BE CURED”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12434, 30 April 1926, Page 7

“CANCER CAN BE CURED”

STRIKING RESULTS OF AMERICAN PROPAGANDA SCHEME

EARLY TREATMENT ESSENTIAL FACTOR MEDICAL PROFESSION OFFER TO SUPPLY LECTURERS The fact that cancer can be cured if treated in its early stages has been conclusively proved. The medical profession state that in a large number of cases the cause of failure is due to the ignorance of patients, who arc unaware of the symptoms of the disease. In order to educate the public in this respect, the British Medical Association (New Zealand' branch) have offered to supply lecturers, who will speak on this vital subject.

0 ‘Times’ ’ Correspondent.) AUCKLAND,, April 29. The fact that cancer can be cured if taken early enough, can in fact be “nipped in the bud/’ has caused much' interest locally. The publio has been asking if this is so why medical men do not inform the people as to early symptoms of the disease, so that advantage can bo taken of the vulnerability of youthful cancer. This public demand has led the Auckland section of the B.M.A. to abandon is traditional policy of reserve and to undertake to supply lecturers who will speak on Uiis ‘vital subject. Similar educational campaigns have achieved great success in the United States, and details have been given by Dr. T. J. Hughes, of the Medical Office of Health, on the authority of Dr J. Young, of Edinburgh. Speaking of free hospital which formed part of a wide scheme of cancer propaganda in America, the latter had stated that the results were so striking that the time was clearly ripe for consideration of their value in Great Britain. ESSENTIAL FACTORS ] Two factors were to be emphasised, one was the very considerable chance ( of a cure by surgery and radiation treatment in the early stages. This had been proved conclusively, and was especially obvious in accessible cancqr. Thus incidence of five-year cures, after operation, where cancer had not spread to the glands, was in the lip 90 to 95 per cent., in the breast 70 per cent., and in the tongue 62 per cent. In servical cancer the results were equally striking. The second point to be .emphasised was that the very considerable powers possessed by the medical profession were largely frustrated by the fact that the majority of cases were seen only in a later stage. When the causes underlying this fact were considered there could be no doubt that the most

important was ignorance on the part af the public of the signs of early cancer, as also of its curability in an early stage. Thus few’ women knew that a lump on the breast was dangerous, and that in women over 40 years of age it implied cancer in 80 per cent, of cases. Few women knew the danger that might underlie irregular bleeding, especially when it occurred at the ago of 35 years or over, and few men knew the danger of a non-healing sore on the lip or tongue. Few people, too, knew that cancer in its beginnings and during its curable stages was merely a painful ailment. THOUSANDS OF LIVES SAVED After allowing for cures actually accomplished by surgery and radiation treatment it has been computed that in males at least one-third, and in females at least one-half, of all cancers are capable of early removal and cure. This is estimated by Dr. Young to represent, under ideal conditions, a potential annual saving of 7000 male lives and 3000 female lives in England alone. | During “cancer week” in the United [ States free clinics were held where | people with suspicious lumps or sores could obtain advice. In Detroit, for example, in four days 1100 persons applied to eight hospitals, and 32 cases lof cancer were discovered. In Idaho, Lin seven small communities, 108 cases |of early cancer were discovered. It was found that as a result of the cam--1 paign more patients were coming to | the routine hospital clinics in America. I Referring to the need of cancer proI paganda in New Zealand, Dr. Hughes I stated that a pamphlet entitled “Cancer: Is it Curable?” was published by the department of Health in 1916, and I was circulated to all officers of the de- | partment in the Dominion to bring the causes of the disease before the public. | It was (also forwarded to all hospital boards which were acting as local authorities for infectious diseases.